Arakan Army abducts 12 Bangladeshi fishermen on two trawlers

The armed Myanmar insurgent group captured the vessels while they were fishing near St Martin’s Island

Members of Myanmar's Arakan Army armed insurgent group have captured two trawlers and abducted 12 more fishermen at work in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Cox's Bazar’s Teknaf Upazila.

They were abducted while fishing in the sea east of Chheradia on St Martin’s Island on Thursday morning, said Azim Uddin, president of the St Martin Fishing Trawler Cooperative Association.

The owners of the two seized trawlers are St Martin residents Md Ilias and Nur Mohammad.

However, the names and identities of the fishermen who were abducted have yet to be confirmed.

Trawler owner Nur Mohammad said, "On Wednesday, six fishermen led by Kabir Majhi went fishing in my trawler in the Chheradia area near the Bay of Bengal. The boat's engine then broke down.

"The Arakan Army abducted them from the area near Chheradia early on Thursday morning. The fishermen are in a state of panic over this incident."

Myanmar-based media outlet “Global Arakan Network” reported that the Arakan Army’s coastal security unit has intensified patrols at sea since Oct 28. During the patrol, several Bangladeshi trawlers were identified fishing in the waters belonging to Arakan State.

In addition, at least 188 Bangladeshi fishermen and 30 boats were detained from January to Jul 18 of this year, the report said. The media outlet reported the abductees were later released.

On Thursday, the “Global Arakan Network” said 12 fishermen had been arrested and two trawlers seized on charges of intruding into Arakan State waters from Bangladesh.

Azim Uddin, president of the St Martin Fishing Trawler Cooperative Association, said that there is panic among the fishermen following the arrests. The Arakan Army has previously detained more than 150 fishermen who had gone to sea to fish at different times and remain in their custody, he said.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, “We are receiving reports of fishermen being abducted. We are investigating the matter. Law enforcing agencies have been informed about the abducted fishermen.”

According to the trawler owners and Border Guard Bangladesh, the Arakan Army have abducted 328 fishermen from the Naf River and the sea in 11 months since December last year. Of these, 27 trawlers carrying 189 fishermen were able to return after several attempts by the BGB. However, 22 trawlers and 164 fishermen are still in prison in Rakhine State.